Can Greek Tragedy Get Us Through the Pandemic?

It’s crazy to me how dismissive the comments here have been. This is an impressively researched, well-written article that presents a very earnest attempt to help people work through difficult times through the medium of theater. The theater group is founded by someone with extensive knowledge of classics and antiquity, and it seems like it tries to draw a direct parallel between the very human experiences in Greek tragedy to those experienced by people today. This seems no more unreasonable to me than learning about the human condition from Shakespeare.

Art is and has always been one of the most well-used means for us to connect with and contemplate our own humanity. The approach outlined in the article is a really interesting take on the active use of art to drive psychological catharsis. I for one really enjoyed it, and I’m inspired to see that these actors, directors, and playwrights are trying to use what they know to help others.

Which is the one with Cassandra? Maybe they should do that one.

Ah, good old New Yorker. As if people, including its own readership, ever bother to read Greek Tragedy (aside a statistically insignificant minority).

The essence of tragedy is a conflict between two equal values. Despite some superficial similarities, we generally don't share ancient Greek values and so we cannot properly experience this conflict. These are beautiful works of art but they won't resonate with us like they did with the original audiences.

The example they use is Antigone. However, the unburied body goes deeply against the ancestor worship common for early societies. While we honour our ancestors, worship is largely gone not just for ancestors but from our daily lives in general with the lessening or religious practices.

There's no debating with results, and if it helps, go for it, but I doubt moderns can feel catharsis when watching a performance of ancient plays like Greeks did.